Ranking the Top 10 Rookie Wide Receivers
By Hayden Winks
5. Sammie Coates (Round 1-2) – Auburn
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Auburn Tigers wide receiver Sammie Coates jumps up the stretch his legs before running the 40 yard dash during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
5. Sammie Coates (Round 2-3) – Auburn
Although he is not the tallest wide receiver on this top-10 list, Sammie has the longest arms and one of the biggest paws. At the combine, he led the wide receivers in the broad jump. The broad jump is a great indicator on how explosive a player is because it shows burst and strength.
His leaping measurements directly translate onto his film at Auburn. He was constantly underthrown on deep passes, which forced him to come back towards the ball and fight over the ball. I watched him take balls from defenders where most receivers would give up. His strength makes him a hard man to bring down and can create plays out of nothing.
Sammie Coates looks like and plays like Roddy White. They both aren’t the fastest players on the field but will battle the hardest and make all the plays necessary. I like Coates as an underrated WR1 in the second round for the Texans. Hopkins and Coates out wide with Cecil Shorts in the slot will give the Texans a major boost that they need with the departure of Andre Johnson.